Cuff-holder.



Patented lulyl5, 1902'.

J. F. SMITH & s. HU'LL.

CUFF HOLDER.

(Application filed Oct. 80, 1901.)

(Q40 Modal.)

witnesses atboznm UNITED STATES Y PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FLOYD SMITH ANDJAMES S. HULL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; SAID SMITH ASSIGNOR TO SAID HULL.

CUFF-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,765 dated'd'uly 15, 1902. Application filed October 30, 1901. Serial No. 80,522. (No model.)

T0 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN FLOYD SMITH and JAMES S. HULL, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Cuff-Holders and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art-to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in tener or clasp wherein provision is had for breaking the joint between the jaws when the fastener is held in the hand and for retaining the jaws in place and limiting their outward movement and whereby the cost of production is cheapened, the construction simplified, and the number of partsreduced to the smallest amount possible.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for eifecting the results reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic fea tures of the invention are tosome extent susceptible of modificatiomlstill the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l'is a perspective view of the clasp or fastener, showing the jaws in their open position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the jaws closed. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4 is a top view of one of the jaws and the mating end of the other jaw. Fig. 5 is awell as to force themtoge'ther. comes inside the arm 12 at one side of the fasspring-metal base-plate having upturned ends 1, terminating in tongues a ct. Two togglejaws B B are pivoted together and mounted in this base-plate between the upturned ends thereof, the jaw B being formed with curved arms b, having one terminating in a laterallyextending ear I). The other jaw, B, is provided with arms b overlapping the arms I) and pivoted thereto by the pin D, passing through coincidentopenin'gs in the overlapped parts of the said arms. The outermost arm 12 terminates'in a laterally-extending ear I), and the ears I) project out far enough to form fingerpieces by means of which a strong pull may be conveniently exerted upon the jaws to force them open when the fastener is held in the hand. The toggle-jaws B B are provided with slots 6 5 near their outer ends and are' preferably serrated or toothed at their inner or'pivoted ends to securely grip the coat-sleeve. The two jaws after having their arms fitted together and pivoted are placed in theIspring-frame formed by the base A and the upturned ends 1 thereof in such a manner that the tongues a a project through the slots 19 b the proj ectiug ends of the tongues being curved toward each other to retain the jaws in place and limit their opening movement when the joint is broken either to release or secure the fastener to the sleeve of the coat or other garment. The upturned ends 1 of the spring-plate,supplemented by its base portion, hold the jaws in-theopen position; but said plate is adapted to yield'and allow the jaws to be forced downward,putting the plate under tension, of course, so that it forces the two jaws tightly together. The arms I) b are so proportioned that their pivotal connection may pass below a straight line drawn between the shoulders formed at the base of the tongues a a, so that when said jaws are forced down to the limit of their movement'the tension of the spring-plate tends to hold them down, as The arm 5 tenor, and the arm 6 comes inside the arm I) at the opposite side of the fastener, with the result that an arm of each jaw occupies an outermost position. The ears I) are formed with the respectivej aws B B. Hence the operating pressure applied to the ears I) is equali zed and exerted directly upon the respective aws.

Upon the bottom of the plate A is a springtongue 0 to engage the and, which tongue is formed integrally with the plate by slitting said plate and displacing the metal between the slits, as shown.

In operation the spring-tongue C is slipped under the rear edge of the cuff,so that the fastener will be clamped to the cuff and lie over the buttonhole. The fastener is opened and thrust, with the cufi, into the coat sleeve. When in the proper position the coat-sleeve is pressed down upon the fastener, and the jaws closing will grip a portion of the sleeve pressed therebetweeu. To remove the cuff, the thumb and forefinger are used to grip the sleeve and the ears I) beneath it, so that by an outward pull the jaws B B may be conveniently opened and the sleeve released. By this means strain on the coat-sleeve is prevented and the teeth of the jaws are prevented from tearing the sleeve.

The construction shown is simple, the cost of production very little in excess of material, the jaws easy to open, a firm grip obtainable, and liability of tearing of the coat-sleeve effectually avoided when detaching the cuff therefrom. Furthermore, as both jaws and their ears are alike in form, the same form of die may be employed for stamping out both from sheet metal. The advantages of our structure over any other device will therefore be readily perceived and appreciated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A fastener comprising a base having a tongue pressed outward therefrom, said base having its end portions bent upward and contracted for a short distance from their extremities to form tongues which are curved toward each other and have shoulders at their bases, toggle jaws having slots near their outer ends to receive the said curved tongues, and having curved arms near their inner ends overlapped, the arm of one jaw being outermost at one side and an arm of the other jaw being outermost at the opposite side, the ends of the outermost arms being bent outward to form finger-pieces, and a pin pivotally connecting the said arms, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FLOYD SMITH. JAMES S. HULL. Witnesses:

DAVID MORRIS, ISAAC BERNSTEIN. 

